# US 2018/0321718 A1 · Energy estimation for thermal management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0321718 A1 - Document ID: US20180321718A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/586,891 - Filed: 2017-05-04 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-04 - Assignees: Silicon Laboratories Inc. - Applicants: Silicon Laboratories Inc. - Inventors: Pranav R. Kaundinya; Sean A. Lofthouse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180321718A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/206: {comprising thermal management} - G05F 1/567: for temperature compensation - G06F 1/28: Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision - H02H 3/20: responsive to excess voltage - H02H 9/04: responsive to excess voltage (lightning arrestors H01C7/12, H01C8/04, H01G9/18, H01T) - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A technique for thermal management of a circuit includes generating a power consumption estimate for the circuit based on a predetermined update amount and a comparison of a sensed voltage level to a predetermined voltage level. The method includes generating a fault signal based on the power consumption estimate and a predetermined power consumption limit. Generating the power consumption estimate may include sensing a voltage drop across a first terminal of a device of the circuit and a second terminal of the device to generate the sensed voltage level. The sensed voltage level may be indicative of the voltage drop. The method may include updating the power consumption estimate by the predetermined update amount in response to a clock signal. The power consumption estimate may be used as a proxy for a measurement of a thermal state of the circuit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for thermal management of a circuit comprising: generating a power consumption estimate for the circuit based on a predetermined update amount and a comparison of a sensed voltage level to a predetermined voltage level; and generating a fault signal based on the power consumption estimate and a predetermined power consumption limit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating the power consumption estimate comprises: sensing a voltage drop across a first terminal of a device of the circuit and a second terminal of the device to generate the sensed voltage level, the sensed voltage level being indicative of the voltage drop; and updating the power consumption estimate by the predetermined update amount in response to a clock signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating the power consumption estimate comprises selecting the predetermined update amount from a plurality of predetermined update amounts based on a comparison of the sensed voltage level to at least the predetermined voltage level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, wherein generating the power consumption estimate comprises: selecting a resistance of at least one resistor coupled to a sense amplifier used by the sensing, the resistor values being selected based on the sensed voltage level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the predetermined voltage level corresponds to a drain-to-source voltage level in a saturation region of operation of the device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined power consumption limit corresponds to the predetermined update amount and the predetermined voltage level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the power consumption estimate is used as a proxy for a measurement of a thermal state of the circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the power consumption estimate is further based on at least one additional predetermined voltage level and corresponding predetermined update amount. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: changing an operational state of the circuit in response to the fault signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined update amount has a magnitude and a sign corresponding to the predetermined voltage level. ### Claim 11 A circuit comprising: a device comprising: a control terminal; a first terminal; and a second terminal, wherein one of the first terminal and the second terminal is configured as an output terminal of the device and another of the first terminal and the second terminal is coupled to a power supply terminal; a power consumption estimator configured to generate a power consumption estimate for the device based on a predetermined update amount and a comparison of a predetermined voltage level to a sensed voltage level indicative of a voltage drop across the first terminal and the second terminal; and a control circuit configured to generate a fault signal based on the power consumption estimate and a predetermined power consumption limit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the sensing circuit comprises: a sense amplifier coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal and configured to generate the sensed voltage level; and at least one variable resistor coupled to sense amplifier, the at least one variable resistor being configured to selectively vary resistance based on the sensed voltage level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the power consumption estimator comprises a select circuit configured to select the predetermined update amount from a plurality of predetermined update amounts based on a comparison of the sensed voltage level to at least the predetermined voltage level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the power consumption estimator comprises a counter configured to update the power consumption estimate in response to a clock signal and the predetermined update amount. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the predetermined update amount has a magnitude and a sign corresponding to the predetermined voltage level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the predetermined voltage level corresponds to a drain-to-source voltage level in a saturation region of operation of the device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the predetermined power consumption limit corresponds to the predetermined update amount and the predetermined voltage level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the power consumption estimate is used as a proxy for a measurement of a thermal state of the device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The circuit, as recited in claim 11, wherein the device is an n-type MOSFET, the first terminal is a source terminal configured as the output terminal, the second terminal is a drain terminal coupled to the power supply terminal, and the device is configured as a high-side current driver. ### Claim 20 An apparatus comprising: means for generating a power consumption estimate for a circuit based on a predetermined update amount and a comparison of a sensed voltage level to a predetermined voltage level; and means for managing a thermal state of the circuit based on the power consumption estimate and a predetermined power consumption limit.